BCI’s Strategic Partner in Turkey, the Good Cotton Practices Association (IPUD), has become a member of the International Cotton Association (ICA). The ICA are the world’s leading international cotton trade association and arbitral body. IPUD’s membership will work to strengthen the ICA’s reach in it’s mission of ‘protecting the legitimate interests of all those who trade cotton, whether buyer or seller.’

Established in 2013, IPUD is the organisation responsible for the implementation of Better Cotton Standard System and the production of Better Cotton in Turkey. IPUD is also focused on creating Better Cotton supply and demand in Turkey and along with its diverse membership base – which includes farmers, ginners, agricultural sales unions, manufacturers, civil society organisations and other industry actors – works across the sector to transform Turkish cotton into a sustainable mainstream commodity.

Corin Wood-Jones, BCI Partnership Manager says: “Having recently taken up a position on the Board of the ICA, it gives BCI great pride to see one of our Strategic Partners embrace the ICA’s values of promotingfair trading practices. Since being established, IPUD has continued to go from strength to strength, and this alliance will help to further ensure that the Better Cotton from Turkey flows through the supply chain within a safe and transparent trading environment.”

In 2013, 280 BCI Farmers cultivated the first Better Cotton to be produced in Turkey, between them producing 13,000 metric tonnes of Better Cotton.

To read more about Better Cotton in Turkey, click here. For ICA’s own announcement about IPUD membership, click here